Secret’s out: Jeff Bezos spends $133m on ‘stopgap’

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has dropped thousands and thousands of {dollars} on a stopgap dwelling. Image: AP Picture/Rebecca Blackwell

---

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has spent years constructing his dream compound contained in the unique Florida enclave of Indian Creek Island — however whereas he waits for that big property to be accomplished, he’s making a heavy funding in overhauling his momentary dwelling only a few ft away.

The 61-year-old snapped up a 3rd property on the so-called Billionaire Bunker in 2024, Realtor.com stories, paying $87 million (AUD $133 million) for the Mediterranean-style mansion, which has served as the first residence for Bezos and his spouse, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, ever since.

That dwelling, nevertheless, has all the time been momentary, bought as a stopgap whereas renovations are accomplished on the 2 adjoining mansions that Bezos purchased again in 2023 for $68 million (AUD $104 million) and $79 million (AUD $121 million), respectively.

A number of stories counsel that the Amazon founder — who has an estimated web value of $255 billion (AUD $391 billion), in accordance with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index — plans to raze each of the present properties to make method for one monumental megamansion that may function the couple’s main residence.

MORE: ‘Not regular’: Bezos’ wedding ceremony act slammed

The couple owns a trio of properties inside the unique enclave, together with two adjoining houses that they’re planning to demolish to make method for an unlimited compound. Image: Google Maps

---

However till that work is accomplished, he has made positive that their momentary lodging are as much as snuff so far as luxurious is anxious, going above and past to rework his third Billionaire Bunker abode.

As first reported by the Day by day Mail, Bezos has carried out a big overhaul of the inside and exterior of his Mediterranean mansion, remodeling the 1.84-acre plot right into a veritable oasis with the assistance {of professional} arborists who’ve planted a plethora of unique bushes all through the entrance and backyards.

Not solely do these bushes, which embrace Japanese yews and Brazilian Magnificence Leafs, assist to supply a pure barrier between the Bezoses and any prying eyes, additionally they add a lush really feel to the property, making a tropical paradise on the grounds of the waterfront dwelling.

A number of statues have been dotted in regards to the parcel, which has additionally been outfitted with a non-public pickleball court docket, in accordance with planning functions seen by Realtor.com.

The paved space surrounding the swimming pool has been prolonged so as to add an out of doors eating space that sits beneath a floral cover, creating an ideal spot for al fresco meals.

A maze of pathways has been paved among the many bushes behind the house, creating what appears like a set of tiny secret gardens inside the grounds of the big six-bedroom dwelling.

MORE: Billionaire blowout – secret $3bn of 15 ‘tremendous’ wealthy

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos tied the knot earlier this yr. Image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Pictures

---

In the meantime, the property’s storage has been remodeled into a non-public gymnasium — with the unique door to the construction eliminated to make method for brand spanking new industrial-strength doorways that price upward of $100,000 (AUD $153,000).

Contained in the dwelling itself, a number of aesthetic renovations have been carried out, in addition to a number of structural modifications to the HVAC system, plumbing, and electrical.

The entire planning functions have been submitted by way of an LLC via which Bezos bought the property and is run by lawyer John C. Sumberg.

It’s presently unclear how lengthy work on his different two dwellings will take; nevertheless, the scope of the work means that it might nicely take a number of years earlier than the newly constructed megamansion is accomplished.

Nonetheless, the Bezoses could have ample alternative to benefit from the exclusivity of their new neighbourhood from their momentary Billionaire Bunker dwelling, which is situated only a stone’s throw from the houses of NFL legend Tom Brady, and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Bezos has been laborious at work on constructing his excellent marital abode on Indian Creek Island since 2023, when he and his spouse introduced they have been relocating their main residence from Washington to Florida, citing a need to be nearer to the billionaire’s household.

Nevertheless, in February 2024, it was revealed that Bezos loved one other perk because of his relocation: saving a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in taxes.

Indian Creek Island is called Billionaire Bunker due to the extraordinary web worths of its residents. Image: Realtor

---

In line with a report by CNBC, the businessman stands to avoid wasting “at the least $610 million” (AUD $935 million) in taxes that he would have needed to pay if he have been nonetheless residing full time in Washington state.

Bezos had bought a property for his mother and father, Mike and Jaclyn, in close by Coral Gables in 2022, paying $78 million (AUD $119 million) for 2 adjoining mansions that served because the couple’s main residence.

Nevertheless, in August, Bezos revealed that his mom, who was often called Jackie, had handed away inside the house after a “lengthy battle with Lewy Physique Dementia.”

In a tribute shared on his Instagram, the businessman expressed his gratitude at with the ability to spend a lot time along with his mom earlier than her loss of life, whereas praising Jackie for giving him such a loving upbringing, significantly after she turned a mom at simply 17 years outdated.

“Her maturity began slightly bit early when she turned my mother on the tender age of 17,” he wrote on the time.

“That couldn’t have been straightforward, however she made all of it work. She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, introduced my superb dad onto the group just a few years later, after which added my sister and brother to her checklist of individuals to like, guard, and nourish.

“For the remainder of her life, that checklist of individuals to like by no means stopped rising. She all the time gave a lot greater than she ever requested for.

Bezos and Sanchez go away the Aman Resort on the third day of their wedding ceremony festivities, in Venice. Image: Marco Bertorello/AFP

---

“After a protracted battle with Lewy Physique Dementia, she handed away immediately, surrounded by so many people who cherished her — her youngsters, grandkids, and my dad. I do know she felt our love in these ultimate moments. We have been all so fortunate to be in her life. I maintain her protected in my coronary heart ceaselessly.”

His spouse was one of many first to specific phrases of condolence within the feedback part, writing: “We are going to miss her SO a lot. Love you.”

Jackie welcomed her son in 1964, when she was simply 17 years outdated and residing in Albuquerque, NM. Bezos’ organic father, Ted Jorgensen, was simply 19 on the time.

Nevertheless, Jorgensen struggled with alcohol points — and the 2, who had wed, shortly divorced, with Jackie later transferring herself and her toddler son again in along with her mother and father.

When Bezos was 4, she wed Mike Bezos, a Cuban immigrant with whom she welcomed two extra kids; he later legally adopted her firstborn son, and the Amazon CEO proudly refers to him as his father.

Mike is known to nonetheless reside within the Coral Gables dwelling.

Bezos has spared no expense remodeling his momentary abode, which he purchased in 2024, overhauling all the things from the storage to the gardens. Image: Google Maps

---

Bezos, in the meantime, has retained a number of residences in Washington state, the place he has largely been primarily based within the tony Seattle suburb of Medina, which can be dwelling to the likes of Invoice Gates and former Microsoft govt Charles Simonyi.

4 years after he based Amazon, Bezos spent $10 million (AUD $15 million), together with now-ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, shopping for up two houses that sit on a 5-acre plot within the city of Hunts Level. In 2010, the duo reportedly spent $28 million to extensively renovate the property, which boasts 310 ft of personal shoreline and a non-public boathouse.

To maximise house (and privateness), Bezos additionally bought an adjoining property that very same yr — a 24,000-square-foot mansion that was reportedly listed for $53 million (AUD $81 million). It’s unclear whether or not the Amazon CEO paid that hefty sum or managed to snag a reduction.

That dwelling would finally function the enterprise mogul’s main residence for the following decade till 2023, when he introduced his transfer to Florida.

Although he nonetheless holds the keys to a lot of his Seattle property portfolio, Bezos did offload one dwelling in April of this yr, promoting it off for an astonishing $97 million (AUD $133 million), in accordance with the Puget Sound Enterprise Journal.

Bezos made a really hefty revenue on the sale of the 9,240-square-foot dwelling, having bought it for $37.5 million (AUD $57 million) in 2019, the identical yr he divorced his ex-wife.

His spectacular property portfolio additionally consists of a rare dwelling in Washington, DC, which he bought for $23 million (AUD $35 million) in 2017, in addition to an enormous pied-à-terre in New York Metropolis that he purchased for $16 million (AUD $24 million) in 2020.

The billionaire really owns $80 million (AUD $122 million) value of models in the identical Manhattan constructing, together with a three-storey penthouse and two flats on the extent proper under it. In 2019, constructing permits have been filed to mix the models.

On the West Coast, he owns an unlimited Beverly Hills megamansion, which he bought from music mogul David Geffen for $165 million (AUD $253 million) in 2020.